_All Theb._ To banishment, away with him!
_OEdip._ Hence, you barbarians, to your slavish distance! Fix to the earth your sordid looks; for he, Who stirs, dares more than madmen, fiends, or furies. Who dares to face me, by the Gods, as well May brave the majesty of thundering Jove. Did I for this relieve you, when besieged By this fierce prince, when cooped within your walls, And to the very brink of fate reduced; When lean-jawed famine made more havock of you, Than does the plague? But I rejoice I know you, Know the base stuff that tempered your vile souls: The Gods be praised, I needed not your empire, Born to a greater, nobler, of my own; Nor shall the sceptre of the earth now win me To rule such brutes, so barbarous a people.
_Adr._ Methinks, my lord, I see a sad repentance, A general consternation spread among them.
_OEdip._ My reign is at an end; yet, ere I finish, I'll do a justice that becomes a monarch; A monarch, who, in the midst of swords and javelins, Dares act as on his throne, encompast round With nations for his guard. Alcander, you Are nobly born, therefore shall lose your head: [_Seizes him._ Here, Hæmon, take him: but for this, and this, Let cords dispatch them. Hence, away with them!
_Tir._ O sacred prince, pardon distracted Thebes, Pardon her, if she acts by heaven's award; If that the infernal spirits have declared The depth of fate; and if our oracles May speak, O do not too severely deal! But let thy wretched Thebes at least complain. If thou art guilty, heaven will make it known; If innocent, then let Tiresias die.
_OEdip._ I take thee at thy word.--Run, haste, and save Alcander: I swear, the prophet, or the king shall die. Be witness, all you Thebans, of my oath; And Phorbas be the umpire.
_Hæm._ From your native country, Great sir, the famed Ægeon is arrived, That renowned favourite of the king your father: He comes as an ambassador from Corinth, And sues for audience.
_OEdip._ Haste, Hæmon, fly, and tell him that I burn To embrace him.
_Hæm._ The queen, my lord, at present holds him In private conference; but behold her here.
_Joc._ Hail, happy OEdipus, happiest of kings! Henceforth be blest, blest as thou canst desire; Sleep without fears the blackest nights away; Let furies haunt thy palace, thou shalt sleep Secure, thy slumbers shall be soft and gentle As infants' dreams.